In 2000, Paul Fentener Van Vlissingen, a Dutch businessman and philanthropist and author entered into a Contractual Park Agreement to effectively accelerate the acquisition of the ecologically valuable areas situated within the low lying area’s to the North West of Marakele National Park. In total, 23 000ha were added to the reserve, which is now known as Marakele Contractual National Park.

Marakele Contractual National Park was established in order to assist SANParks in the expansion of the Marakele National Park. The land was proclaimed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism as a schedule 2 National Park in 2001, essentially a Contractual National Park.

On the contact us page, it states :

Marakele Contractual Park (Pty) Ltd is private, and we do not offer any accommodation whatsoever. To obtain information on accommodation, day trips, etc., please contact Marataba Lodge or Marakele National Parks (SANParks) directly.

What is this 'private' park meant for? Is it in fact private or part of SANParks? Who in fact owns it? I was told by an American?I am a bit confused about it?

Marakele consist out of two separate but integrated units. The first unit is Marakele National Park, which belongs to SANParks in just the same way as all national parks, and which is open and accessible to the general public.

After the establishment of Marakele NP, Paul Van Vlissingen, a Dutch businessman bought a large adjoining property. He then went in to discussion with SANParks, and they have reached a contractual agreement. The basics is, that he gave the property to SANParks, but retained the tourism use on the property for, I think, a 100 years. He is allowed to erect and run a set number of private lodges on the property. This is now called Marakele PTY LTD. and is described as a contractual park.

For SANParks this means the following: The park belongs to them. They do the ecological management of the area. There are no fences between the two properties. This has the benefit of almost doubling the size of the national park, creating a much bigger environment for the animals to live in. After a 100 years, all rights will seed to SANParks.

SANParks have been able to buy other farms in the area with the limited money available, instead of having to buy this property.

All in all this is a win-win situation, though this do mean that there is limited accessibility to the public in the contractual area.